Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes: a backlight unit, a camera hole penetrating the backlight unit, a camera in the camera hole, a liquid crystal panel on the backlight unit, the liquid crystal panel including a transparent portion on the camera hole, and at least one light-blocking member in the camera hole, the at least one light-blocking member being configured to reduce one or more of: light leakage from the camera hole and introduction of impurities into the camera hole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/511,509, filed on Jul. 15, 2019, which claims the benefit of andpriority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0100128, filed on Aug.27, 2018, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a display device, and moreparticularly, to a display device including a camera.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Recently, in the information society, there has been an increasingemphasis on the importance of display devices and displays as visualinformation delivery media. Thus, display devices and displays need tosatisfy requirements, such as low power consumption, small thickness,and high image quality to occupy an important position in the future.

A display may be classified into an emissive type display that iscapable of autonomously emitting light, e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT),an electroluminescent (EL) display, a light-emitting diode (LED), avacuum fluorescent display (VFD), a field emission display (FED), or aplasma display panel (PDP); and a non-emissive type display that is notcapable of autonomously emitting light, e.g., a liquid crystal display(LCD). Among such various displays, the LCD is a device that displays animage using the optically anisotropic quality of liquid crystals, andhas drawn attention due to the small amount of radiation emittedtherefrom, as well as excellent visibility compared with an existing CRTand average (e.g., reduced) power consumption compared with a CRT withthe same screen size.

Such an LCD may realize an image by adjusting the transmittance of lightgenerated by a light source by disposing the light source below liquidcrystals and applying an electric field to the liquid crystals tocontrol the arrangement of the liquid crystals. The LCD is applicable tovarious electronic devices, such as a smart phone or a tablet personalcomputer (PC). In particular, the LCD is configured in such a way that aliquid crystal panel is disposed below a cover glass, and a backlightunit is disposed below the liquid crystal panel, and includes a coverbottom for accommodating or supporting the liquid crystal or thebacklight unit. As a recent display has aimed for a slim bezel with asmall thickness and an ultra-thin display, there has been increasingdemand for a thin and light display device.

Recently, a display device of a mobile device or the like has achieved anarrow bezel, which is formed by minimizing the width of the bezel towiden a viewing region of a liquid panel in the device as well as a slimbezel. However, when a liquid crystal panel is extended to a frontsurface of a device to realize a narrow bezel in a display including acamera, the liquid crystal panel may extend to a region in which thecamera is installed. For example, a through-hole needs to be formed topenetrate a liquid crystal panel, a polarizing plate, and a backlightunit of a camera hole region in which the camera is installed, or thecorresponding portion needs to be transparent.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a display device thatsubstantially obviates one or more of the issues due to limitations anddisadvantages of the related art.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display device forreducing or preventing light leakage and the introduction of impuritiesinto a camera hole in a narrow bezel display including a camera. Assuch, a display device according an embodiment may include at least onelight-blocking member. The term “light-blocking member” may generallyrefer to an element that is adapted to reduce light leakage from thecamera hole and/or introduction of impurities into the camera hole.

Additional features and aspects will be set forth in the descriptionthat follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or maybe learned by practice of the inventive concepts provided herein. Otherfeatures and aspects of the inventive concepts may be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription, or derivable therefrom, and the claims hereof as well asthe appended drawings.

To achieve these and other aspects of the inventive concepts as embodiedand broadly described, there is provided a display device, including: abacklight unit, a camera hole penetrating the backlight unit, a camerain the camera hole, a liquid crystal panel on the backlight unit, theliquid crystal panel including a transparent portion on the camera hole,and at least one light-blocking member in the camera hole, the at leastone light-blocking member being configured to reduce one or more of:light leakage from the camera hole and introduction of impurities intothe camera hole.

In another aspect, there is provided a display device, including: abacklight unit, a liquid crystal panel on the backlight unit, a camerahole penetrating the backlight unit and the liquid crystal panel, acamera in the camera hole, and a light-blocking tape covering a portionof the camera hole located between the camera and the liquid crystalpanel, the light-blocking tape being configured to reduce one or moreof: light leakage from the camera hole and introduction of impuritiesinto the camera hole.

In another aspect, there is provided a display device, including: abacklight unit including a light guide plate, a camera hole penetratingthe backlight unit, a camera in the camera hole, a liquid crystal panelon the backlight unit, the liquid crystal panel including a transparentportion on the camera hole, wherein a side surface of the light guideplate adjacent to the camera hole is inclined by a predetermined anglewith respect to a line extending vertically from the light guide plateto the liquid crystal panel, the side surface of the light guide platebeing configured to reduce light leakage from the camera hole.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or will become,apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the followingfigures and detailed description. It is intended that all suchadditional systems, methods, features and advantages be included withinthis description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and beprotected by the following claims. Nothing in this section should betaken as a limitation on those claims. Further aspects and advantagesare discussed below in conjunction with embodiments of the disclosure.It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present disclosure areexamples and explanatory, and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the disclosure as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, that may be included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure andtogether with the description serve to explain various principles of thedisclosure.

FIG. 1A is a front view of a display device including a camera accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a front view illustrating an embodiment in a state in which acover glass and an upper cover are removed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 , part (b).

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of region ‘B’ of FIG. 2 , andillustrates a case in which light leakage from a camera hole regionoccurs.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cameral hole region in a displaydevice according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a camera hole region in a display deviceaccording to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a simulation result of bright linedistribution of light depending on an inclination angle of a light guideplate of FIG. 13 .

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwisedescribed, the same drawing reference numerals should be understood torefer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative sizeand depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity,illustration, and convenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. In the following description, when a detailed description ofwell-known functions or configurations related to this document isdetermined to unnecessarily cloud a gist of the inventive concept, thedetailed description thereof will be omitted. The progression ofprocessing steps and/or operations described is an example; however, thesequence of steps and/or operations is not limited to that set forthherein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception ofsteps and/or operations necessarily occurring in a particular order.Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout. Names of therespective elements used in the following explanations are selected onlyfor convenience of writing the specification and may be thus differentfrom those used in actual products.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first element could be termed asecond element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The term “at least one” should be understood as including any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example,the meaning of “at least one of a first item, a second item, and a thirditem” denotes the combination of all items proposed from two or more ofthe first item, the second item, and the third item as well as the firstitem, the second item, or the third item.

In the description of embodiments, when a structure is described asbeing positioned “on or above” or “under or below” another structure,this description should be construed as including a case in which thestructures contact each other as well as a case in which a thirdstructure is disposed therebetween. The size and thickness of eachelement shown in the drawings are given merely for the convenience ofdescription, and embodiments of the present disclosure are not limitedthereto.

Features of various embodiments of the present disclosure may bepartially or overall coupled to or combined with each other, and may bevariously inter-operated with each other and driven technically as thoseskilled in the art can sufficiently understand. Embodiments of thepresent disclosure may be carried out independently from each other, ormay be carried out together in co-dependent relationship.

Hereinafter, a display device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a front view of a display device including a camera accordingto an embodiment. FIG. 1B is a front view illustrating an embodiment ina state in which a cover glass and an upper cover are removed. FIG. 2 isa perspective view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1B.

With reference to FIG. 1A, a display device 1 according to an embodimentmay include a camera 2 installed at a front surface of the displaydevice 1, and may be achieved with a narrow bezel by reducing orminimizing the thickness of a bezel to increase or maximize the width ofa viewing region of a liquid crystal panel 200 (see FIG. 2 ) covered bya cover glass 10. The cover glass 10 may include a protective film (notshown) disposed at the upper surface of the cover glass 10. The coverglass 10 may include a touch panel (not shown). The touch panel may be aresistive-type touch panel for recognizing the coordinates of theposition at which pressure is applied by densely installing sensor linesthat respond to pressure applied to a surface, or may be acapacitive-type touch panel for recognizing a position corresponding toa touch by charging a surface of the cover glass 10 with an electriccharge, installing sensors around the surface, and then detecting thedegree to which the electric charge drops in the event of a touch.

As shown in FIG. 1B, an upper polarizing plate 110 may be below thecover glass 10, and a through-hole H may penetrate the upper polarizingplate 110 to operate the camera 2. As shown in FIG. 2 , the through-holeH in the upper polarizing plate 110 may have a position and sizecorresponding to a camera hole CH in which the camera 2 may beinstalled.

The liquid crystal panel 200 may be between the through-hole H and thecamera hole CH. The liquid crystal panel 200 may include a transparentportion 230 between the through-hole H and the camera hole CH.

The liquid crystal panel 200 may include pixels arranged in a matrixform to output an image, and may include a color filter substrate 210and an array substrate 220 that may face each other and may be closelyadhered to each other to maintain a uniform cell gap, and a liquidcrystal layer (not shown) on which the cell gap between the color filtersubstrate 210 and the array substrate 220 may be formed. The colorfilter substrate 210 may include a color filter including a plurality ofsub-color filters for realizing red, green, and blue (RGB) colors, ablack matrix that may separate the sub-color filters and block lighttransmitted through the liquid crystal layer, and an overcoat layer onthe color filter and the black matrix.

A gate line and a data line, which may be perpendicularly andhorizontally arranged to define a pixel region may be on the arraysubstrate 220. A thin-film transistor (TFT), as a switching device maybe at an intersection region between the gate line and the data line.The TFT may include a gate electrode connected to the gate line, asource electrode connected to the data line, and a drain electrodeconnected to a pixel electrode.

A common electrode and a pixel electrode may be on the liquid crystalpanel 200, with the color filter substrate 210 and the array substrate220 being adhered to each other, to apply an electric field to theliquid crystal layer. A voltage of a data signal applied to the pixelelectrode may be controlled in the state in which a voltage is appliedto the common electrode. Then, liquid crystals of the liquid crystallayer may be rotated due to dielectric anisotropy according to anelectric field between the common electrode and the pixel electrode, andmay thus transmit or block light for each pixel to display text orimages. For example, to control the voltage of the data signal appliedto the pixel electrode for each pixel, a switching device such as a TFTmay be separately included in pixels.

The transparent portion 230 may have a shape and size corresponding tothe camera hole CH and the through-hole H, and may be maintained in atransparent state to allow the camera 2 to perform photography. Forexample, the transparent portion 230 may be controlled to make a portionof the liquid crystal panel 200 transparent using a method of adjustinga sub-filter of a layer of the color filter substrate 210.

Polarizing plates 110 and 120 may be attached above and below anexternal side of the color filter substrate 210 and the array substrate220, respectively. For example, the lower polarizing plate 120 maypolarize light transmitted through a backlight unit 300 in a directiontoward the array substrate 220, and the upper polarizing plate 110 maypolarize light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 200. Thebacklight unit 300 may include a light guide plate 320 below the liquidcrystal panel 200, a plurality of optical sheets 310 for enhancing theefficiency of light emitted from the light guide plate 320 and emittinglight to the liquid crystal panel 200, and a reflector plate 330.

The light guide plate 320 may receive light from a light source (notshown), and may guide the light in a direction toward the liquid crystalpanel 200. The light guide plate 320 may include a plastic material,such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC).

The optical sheet 310 may include a diffusion sheet and a prism sheet,and may additionally include a brightness enhancement film, such as DBEF(dual brightness enhancement film) and a protective sheet. The opticalsheet 310 may be between an upper surface of the light guide plate 320and a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel 200.

The reflector plate 330 may be between a cover bottom 400 and a bottomsurface of the light guide plate 320. The reflector plate 330 mayreflect light emitted from a light source and light reflected from thelight guide plate 320 in a direction toward the liquid crystal panel200. The light emitted from the light source may be incident on a sidesurface of the light guide plate 320 including a transparent material,and the reflector plate 330 on the bottom surface of the light guideplate 320 may reflect the light transmitted through the bottom surfaceof the light guide plate 320 in a direction toward the optical sheet 310of the upper surface of the light guide plate 320 to reduce the loss oflight and to enhance uniformity of brightness.

The backlight unit 300 including the aforementioned configuration may beaccommodated in the cover bottom 400. The backlight unit 300 is notlimited to the aforementioned structure, and a backlight unit 300 havingany structure may also be applied to the display device 1 according tothe present disclosure.

The cover bottom 400 may accommodate the backlight unit 300 and a guidepanel therein, and may support the aforementioned liquid crystal panel200. For example, the cover bottom 400 may be configured with only abottom portion and a side surface portion for a minimized and/or slimmedbezel region. For example, the cover bottom 400 may include a bottomportion having a rectangular plate shape and a side surface portion thatprotrudes upwards from one side of the bottom portion by a predeterminedlength. The aforementioned cover bottom 400 is merely an example, andmay be applied to the display device 1 according to the presentdisclosure in any of various shapes.

The display device 1 according to an embodiment may be configured insuch a way that the through-hole H may be in the upper polarizing plate110, and the camera hole CH for installing the camera 2 therein may bein (e.g., defined in) the backlight unit 300 and the cover bottom 400.The transparent portion 230 of the liquid crystal panel 200 may bebetween the through-hole H and the camera hole CH.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of region ‘B’ of FIG. 2 , andillustrates a case in which light leakage from a camera hole regionoccurs.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the camera hole CH may penetrate the aforementionedbacklight unit 300 and the cover bottom 400. For example, the camerahole CH may penetrate the lower polarizing plate 120, the optical sheet310, the light guide plate 320, the reflector plate 330, and the coverbottom 400, and may be below the transparent portion 230 of the liquidcrystal panel 200. A diffuser 315 may be in the backlight unit 300. Thecamera hole CH may penetrate the diffuser 315, as well.

The camera 2 may be installed in the aforementioned camera hole CH, andmay be operated to capture an image or a video image below thetransparent portion 230 of the liquid crystal panel 200. However, a gapmay be present between the camera 2 and the camera hole CH. For example,as indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. 3 , light transmitted throughthe light guide plate 320 from the light source of the backlight unit300 may leak to above the transparent portion 230 of the liquid crystalpanel 200 through the gap; for example, light leakage may occur. Suchlight leakage may be perceptible at a particular viewing angle throughthe camera 2, thus causing a problem of degradation of the photographicquality of the camera 2 and reduction in display performance.

As impurities, such as dust may be introduced through the camera holeCH, display quality may be degraded, e.g., spreading or blurriness mayoccur. As such, embodiments of the present disclosure may reduce orprevent light leakage around the camera hole CH and the introduction ofimpurities, which degrade display performance.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a first embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 4 , the display device 1 according to the firstembodiment may include, as a light-blocking member, a light-blockingtape 500 installed in the aforementioned camera hole CH. Thelight-blocking tape 500 may be attached to the lower polarizing plate120 and the liquid crystal panel 200, which may be at an upper region ofa side surface of the camera hole CH to reduce or prevent light leakageand the introduction of impurities.

For example, when the camera hole CH has a circular cross-section, thelight-blocking tape 500 may be shaped as a ring that is a circleconcentric with the circumferential surface of the camera hole CH. Thelight-blocking tape 500 may be divided into a lower adhesive portion510, an upper adhesive portion 530, and a shielding portion 520according to the position thereof. The light-blocking tape 500 may havea color (e.g., black) that is capable of blocking light. An adhesive maybe coated on opposite surfaces of the light-blocking tape 500.

The lower adhesive portion 510 may be adhered and fixed to the lowerpolarizing plate 120 and the optical sheet 310, and may be between thelower polarizing plate 120 and the optical sheet 310. For example, thelower adhesive portion 510 may be the outermost circumferential regionof the light-blocking tape 500.

The upper adhesive portion 530 may be adhered and fixed to the liquidcrystal panel 200 and the camera 2, and may be between the liquidcrystal panel 200 and the camera 2. For example, the upper adhesiveportion 530 may be the innermost circumferential region of thelight-blocking tape 500.

The shielding portion 520 may connect the lower adhesive portion 510 andthe upper adhesive portion 530, and may cover the upper region of theside surface of the camera hole CH in which the camera 2 may beinstalled. For example, the shielding portion 520 may function as ashielding film for reducing or preventing light from externally leakingfrom the upper region of the side surface of the camera hole CH, and forreducing or preventing impurities from being introduced.

For example, the upper adhesive portion 530 of the light-blocking tape500 may have a higher position than the lower adhesive portion 510, andthe shielding portion 520 may be disposed at an incline. The shape andadhered position of the light-blocking tape 500 may be modified asdesired. The display device including the above configuration accordingto the first embodiment may reduce or prevent light leakage and theintroduction of impurities around the camera hole CH, which may degradedisplay performance, using the light-blocking tape 500.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a camera hole region in a display deviceaccording to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view ofthe configuration of FIG. 5 .

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 , according to the second embodiment,the display device may further include, as a further light-blockingmember, an insert mold 600, in addition to the light-blocking tape 500according to the aforementioned embodiment. As described above, thelight-blocking tape 500 may reduce or prevent light leakage and theintroduction of impurities while being positioned at an upper region ofa side surface of an internal portion of the camera hole CH.

The insert mold 600 may be inserted into the camera hole CH, which maydouble the aforementioned effect, while being coupled to thelight-blocking tape 500 and the cover bottom 400. The insert mold 600may include a plastic resin or a metallic material, although embodimentsare not limited thereto.

The insert mold 600 may include a bottom-coupling portion 610, an uppersupport portion 630, and a side surface connection portion 620. Theinsert mold 600 may be formed by coupling various forms of rings and mayhave a cross-section similar to the shape of a ‘Z’.

The bottom-coupling portion 610 may be coupled to the cover bottom 400.For example, the bottom-coupling portion 610 may be formed as a ringconstituting a lower region of the insert mold 600, and may have anupper surface that may contact the lower surface of the cover bottom400. For example, the bottom-coupling portion 610 may be shaped as aring having a horizontal surface that may extend externally toward thecover bottom 400 from the camera hole CH.

The upper support portion 630 may support the light-blocking tape 500.For example, the upper support portion 630 may be shaped as a ringconstituting an upper region of the insert mold 600, and may have anupper surface that may contact the lower surface of the light-blockingtape 500. For example, the upper support portion 630 may be shaped as aring having a horizontal surface that may internally extend toward thecenter of the camera hole CH.

The side surface connection portion 620 may connect the bottom-couplingportion 610 and the upper support portion 630. For example, the sidesurface connection portion 620 may constitute a side surface of theinsert mold 600, and may be shaped as a ring. The side surfaceconnection portion 620 may be disposed vertically and lengthwise in thecamera hole CH to shield the backlight unit 300, including the lightguide plate 320, from the camera hole CH.

For example, according to the second embodiment, the light guide plate320 and the camera hole CH may be shielded from each other through theinsert mold 600. Thus, as indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. 6 ,light emitted from the light guide plate 320 may be blocked to bereduced or prevented from entering the camera hole CH. The displaydevice including the above configuration according to the secondembodiment may remarkably reduce or prevent light leakage and theintroduction of impurities around the camera hole CH, which may degradedisplay performance, using the light-blocking tape 500 and the insertmold 600.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a third embodiment.

The third embodiment will be described in terms of differences from thesecond embodiment. With reference to FIG. 7 , the display deviceaccording to the third embodiment may be similar to the secondembodiment in that the display device includes the light-blocking tape500 and an insert mold 601 as light-blocking members. However, thedisplay device according to the third embodiment is different from theaforementioned second embodiment in that the bottom-coupling portion 610of the insert mold 600 according to the second embodiment is positionedbelow a cover bottom 400, but according to the third embodiment, abottom-coupling portion 611 of the insert mold 601 is coupled to a sidesurface of the cover bottom 400.

Here, the insert mold 601 may be manufactured to be integrated into thecover bottom 400. For example, the insert mold 601 inserted into thecamera hole CH may be integrated into the cover bottom 400. For example,the insert mold 601 may include the same metallic material as the coverbottom 400. For example, an upper support portion 631 may also supportthe light-blocking tape 500, and a side surface connection portion 621may connect the bottom-coupling portion 611 and the upper supportportion 631 to each other.

According to the third embodiment, the light guide plate 320 and thecamera hole CH may be shielded from each other through the insert mold601. Thus, as indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. 7 , light emittedfrom the light guide plate 320 may be blocked to be prevented fromentering the camera hole CH. The display device including the aboveconfiguration according to the third embodiment may remarkably reduce orprevent light leakage and the introduction of impurities around thecamera hole CH, which may degrade display performance, using thelight-blocking tape 500 and the insert mold 601.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a fourth embodiment.

The fourth embodiment will be described in terms of differences from thethird embodiment. The fourth embodiment is different from the thirdembodiment in that a camera hole CH1 according to the fourth embodimentis formed more deeply to penetrate the liquid crystal panel. Forexample, the camera hole CH1, instead of the transparent portion 230,may penetrate the color filter substrate 210 and the array substrate 220of the liquid crystal panel 200.

Accordingly, the camera 2 may be inserted up to a position of the camerahole CH1 in the liquid crystal panel 200, and may be positioned up to aposition of a lower portion of a cover glass (not shown), which may beabove the liquid crystal panel 200. According to the fourth embodiment,an insert mold 602 may include a bottom-coupling portion 612 coupled tothe cover bottom 400, an upper support portion 632 for supporting alight-blocking tape 700, and a side surface connection portion 622 forconnecting the bottom-coupling portion 612 and the upper support portion632.

Here, the light-blocking tape 700 may be different from thelight-blocking tape 500 according to the fourth embodiment in that thelight-blocking tape 700 may be attached to a portion of an upper surfaceof the liquid crystal panel 200, e.g., the color filter substrate 210,and a portion of an upper surface of the camera 2. For example, theoutermost region of the light-blocking tape 700 may contact a coverglass and the color filter substrate 210, and the innermost region maycontact the cover glass, the upper support portion 632 of the insertmold 602, and an upper surface of the camera 2.

The upper support portion 632 of the insert mold 602 may be parallel tothe color filter substrate 210 of the liquid crystal panel 200 to lessor minimally impinge upon the region in which the camera 2 may bepositioned, and may have the same thickness as the color filtersubstrate 210. In addition, the insert mold 602 may be integrated intothe cover bottom 400 (e.g., in a similar manner as described for thethird embodiment shown in FIG. 7 ); or may be manufactured separatelyfrom the cover bottom 400, and may be coupled thereto (e.g., in asimilar manner as described for the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5and 6 ). The display device including the above configuration accordingto the fourth embodiment may reduce or prevent light leakage and theintroduction of impurities around the camera hole CH1 using thelight-blocking tape 700 and the insert mold 602 in a display includingthe camera hole CH1 that may extend to the liquid crystal panel 200.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a fifth embodiment.

The fifth embodiment will be described in terms of differences from thefourth embodiment. The fifth embodiment is similar to the fourthembodiment in that a camera hole CH2 according to the fifth embodimentis formed more deeply to penetrate the liquid crystal panel 200, and thedisplay device includes a light-blocking tape 701 and an insert mold603.

However, the light-blocking tape 701 may be different from thelight-blocking tape 700 according to the fourth embodiment in that thelight-blocking tape 701 may be attached to a portion that may extend toan upper portion of the liquid crystal panel 200, e.g., the color filtersubstrate 210 and an upper support portion 633. For example, theoutermost region of the light-blocking tape 701 may contact a coverglass and the color filter substrate 210 and the innermost region of thelight-blocking tape 701 may contact the cover glass and the uppersupport portion 633 of the insert mold 603.

Unlike the fourth embodiment, the insert mold 603 of the fifthembodiment may be configured such that a side surface connection portion623 of the insert mold 603 may protrude into a region (e.g., towards acenter) of the camera hole CH2 to have a cross-section that graduallyincreases in size toward the upper support portion 633 of the insertmold 603 from a bottom-coupling portion 613 of the insert mold 603.

The shape of the insert mold 603 is a modified embodiment to correspondto the shape of the camera 2. Thus, an upper region of the camera holeCH2 may constitute a narrower space than a lower region to provide astructure for more effectively reducing or preventing the introductionof impurities and light leakage. In the display device including theabove configuration according to the fifth embodiment, a displayincluding the camera hole CH2 that may extend to the liquid crystalpanel 200 may reduce or prevent light leakage and the introduction ofimpurities around the camera hole CH2 using the light-blocking tape 701and the insert mold 603.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a sixth embodiment.

The sixth embodiment will be described in terms of differences from theaforementioned fifth embodiment. The sixth embodiment is similar to thefourth embodiment in that a camera hole CH3 according to the sixthembodiment is formed more deeply to penetrate the liquid crystal panel200, and the light-blocking tape 701 is attached to the same position asin the fifth embodiment.

Unlike the fifth embodiment, an upper support portion 634 of an insertmold 604 of the sixth embodiment may have a predetermined thickness froman upper portion of the light guide plate 320 to the liquid crystalpanel 200. The insert mold 604 may also include a bottom-couplingportion 614 and a side surface connection portion 624. In addition,unlike the fifth embodiment, the upper support portion 634 of the sixthembodiment may protrude into a region (e.g., towards a center) of thecamera hole CH3 to have a cross-section that gradually increases in sizetoward the liquid crystal panel 200.

The shape of the insert mold 604 is another modified embodiment tocorrespond to the shape of a camera. In the display device including theabove configuration according to the sixth embodiment, a display device(e.g., the display device 1), including the camera hole CH3 that mayextend to the liquid crystal panel 200, may reduce or prevent lightleakage and the introduction of impurities around the camera hole CH3using the light-blocking tape 701 and the insert mold 604.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a seventh embodiment.

The seventh embodiment will be described in terms of differences fromthe aforementioned sixth embodiment. The seventh embodiment is similarto the sixth embodiment in that a camera hole CH4 according to theseventh embodiment is formed more deeply to penetrate the liquid crystalpanel 200, and in that the light-blocking tape 701 is attached to thesame position as in the sixth embodiment.

However, unlike the sixth embodiment, an upper support portion 635 of aninsert mold 605 of the seventh embodiment may have a predeterminedthickness from the lower polarizing plate 120 to the liquid crystalpanel 200 (e.g., from the lower surface of the polarizing plate 120 tothe upper surface of the liquid crystal panel 200). In addition, unlikethe sixth embodiment, the upper support portion 635 of the seventhembodiment may protrude into a region (e.g., towards a center) of thecamera hole CH4 compared with a side surface connection portion 625. Theinsert mold 605 may also include a bottom-coupling portion 615.

The shape of the insert mold 605 is another modified embodiment tocorrespond to the shape of a camera. In the display device including theabove configuration according to the seventh embodiment, a displaydevice (e.g., the display device 1), including the camera hole CH4,which may extend to the liquid crystal panel 200 may reduce or preventlight leakage and the introduction of impurities around the camera holeCH4 using the light-blocking tape 701 and the insert mold 605.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to an eighth embodiment.

The eighth embodiment will be described in terms of differences from theaforementioned embodiments. As in the first to third embodiments,according to the eighth embodiment, the camera hole CH may not be formedin the liquid crystal panel 200, and the transparent portion 230 may beformed. However, the eighth embodiment may be different from theaforementioned first to third embodiments in that an insert mold 606(which may serve as light-blocking member) may be inserted into thecamera hole CH without use of the light-blocking tape 500.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12 , the insert mold 606 may includea bottom-coupling portion 616 coupled to a lower portion of the coverbottom 400, and a side surface extension portion 626 that mayperpendicularly extend from the bottom-coupling portion 616, and may beinserted into a side surface of the camera hole CH. However, accordingto the eighth embodiment, the display device may not include thelight-blocking tape 500, and thus, may not include the upper supportportions 630 to 631 for supporting the light-blocking tape 500. Thedisplay device including the above configuration according to the eighthembodiment may reduce or prevent light leakage and the introduction ofimpurities around the camera hole CH, which may degrade displayperformance, using the insert mold 606.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a camera hole region in a displaydevice according to a ninth embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing asimulation result of bright line distribution of light depending on aninclination angle of the light guide plate of FIG. 13 .

The ninth embodiment will be described in terms of differences from theaforementioned embodiments. The ninth embodiment is different from theaforementioned embodiments in that the display device according to theninth embodiment includes a light leakage prevention portion 607, whichmay be formed by cutting the side surface of the light guide plate 320adjacent to the camera hole CH downward by a predetermined angle θ forreducing or preventing light leakage. For example, according to theninth embodiment, the light-blocking tapes 500, 700, and 701 and theinsert molds 601 to 606 according to the aforementioned embodiments maynot be used. Instead, the light leakage prevention portion 607 may beformed on the light guide plate 320.

The light leakage prevention portion 607 may reflect the light emittedfrom the light guide plate 320 by an inclination surface to reduce orprevent the same from escaping to the outside. For example, thepredetermined angle may be in the range from 30° to 60° between avertical line and a side surface of the light guide plate 320, and thelight guide plate 320 may be cut at the predetermined angle to form theinclined side surface of the light guide plate 320 and thus define thelight leakage prevention portion 607. For example, the side surface ofthe light guide plate 320 that faces the camera hole CH may be inclinedby an angle θ, as shown in FIG. 13 , and thus may define the lightleakage prevention portion 607.

As seen from FIG. 14 , when the light guide plate 320 includes anincision surface formed at various inclination angles θ, bright linedistribution of light may be changed depending on the inclination angleθ. For example, it may be seen that light leakage may be observed in thesmallest amount when the inclination angle θ is in the range of 30° to60°. In addition, as seen from the simulation experimental result, whenthe inclination angle θ is 45°, the optimum effect may be achieved.

Here, the cover bottom 400 adjacent to the camera hole CH may have awidth parallel to the lower surface of the light guide plate 320 thatmay form the light leakage prevention portion 607. The reflector plate330 positioned above the light guide plate 320 may also have the samewidth as the cover bottom 400.

Although not illustrated, the display device including the light leakageprevention portion 607 according to the ninth embodiment may furtherinclude the light-blocking tape 500 according to the eighth embodiment,which may be attached to the lower polarizing plate 120 and the liquidcrystal panel 200 positioned above a side surface of the camera hole CH,and may reduce or prevent light leakage. The display device includingthe above configuration according to the ninth embodiment may reduce orprevent light leakage around the camera hole CH, which may degradedisplay performance, using the light leakage prevention portion 607.

The aforementioned display device according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure may be applied to various electronic apparatuses,such as a television (TV), a smart phone, or a tablet personal computer(PC). The display device according to the present disclosure may reduceor prevent light leakage and the introduction of impurities through acamera hole to enhance display performance in a narrow bezel displayincluding a camera.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations may be made in the present disclosurewithout departing from the technical idea or scope of the disclosure.Thus, it may be intended that embodiments of the present disclosurecover the modifications and variations of the disclosure provided theycome within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device, comprising: a backlight unit; aliquid crystal panel on the backlight unit; a camera hole penetratingthe backlight unit and the liquid crystal panel; a camera in the camerahole; and a light-blocking member covering a portion of the camera holelocated between the camera and the liquid crystal panel, wherein thelight-blocking member is attached to: an upper surface of the liquidcrystal panel, and an upper surface of the camera.
 2. The display deviceof claim 1, wherein the camera extends in the camera hole up to theupper surface of the liquid crystal panel.
 3. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the light-blocking member comprises a light-blockingtape.
 4. The display device of claim 1, wherein: the camera hole has acircular cross-section; and the light-blocking member is shaped as acircular ring that is concentric with a circumferential surface of thecamera hole.
 5. The display device of claim 1, wherein a color of thelight-blocking member is black.
 6. The display device of claim 1,further comprising: a cover bottom; and an insert mold penetrating theliquid crystal panel and the backlight unit.
 7. The display device ofclaim 6, wherein the insert mold comprises: a bottom-coupling portioncoupled to the cover bottom; an upper support portion supporting thelight-blocking member; and a side surface connection portion connectingthe bottom-coupling portion to the upper support portion.
 8. The displaydevice of claim 7, wherein the bottom-coupling portion is coupled to aside surface of the cover bottom.
 9. The display device of claim 7,further comprising: a lower polarizing plate between the backlight unitand the liquid crystal panel, the camera hole penetrating the lowerpolarizing plate; and an upper polarizing plate on the liquid crystalpanel, wherein the camera hole penetrates the upper polarizing plate.10. The display device of claim 6, wherein the light-blocking member isattached to an upper surface of the insert mold.
 11. The display deviceof claim 10, the insert mold is integrated into the cover bottom.
 12. Adisplay device, comprising: a backlight unit; a liquid crystal panel onthe backlight unit; a camera hole penetrating the backlight unit and theliquid crystal panel; a camera in the camera hole; an insert mold; and alight-blocking member covering a portion of the camera hole locatedbetween the camera and the liquid crystal panel, wherein: at least aportion of the insert mold is disposed between the liquid crystal paneland the camera; and the light-blocking member is attached to: an uppersurface of the liquid crystal panel, and an upper surface of the insertmold.
 13. The display device of claim 12, wherein the insert moldcomprises: a bottom-coupling portion disposed below the backlight unit;an upper support portion supporting the light-blocking member; and aside surface connection portion connecting the bottom-coupling portionto the upper support portion.